Loading apparatus



May 11 J. R. VERHOEFF LOADING APPARATUS File ct- 5. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 eff:

May 11 1926. 1,584,496

J. R. VERHOEFF LOADING APPARATUS Filed: OCT 5, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 11 1926. a

J. R. VERHOEFF LOADING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 11, 1926.

UNITED STATES,

JACK RENWIGK VERHOEFF, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, nssrenoza T oonsuivinas GOM- IPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIOBATION OF ILLINOIS.

LOADING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 3, 1925. Serial No. 60,140.

This invention relates to apparatus for loading coal or other merchandise from a dock to a receiving boat adjacentthereto.

The invention consists in the novel apparatus and combinations of devices herein i1- lustrated, described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a loading apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation on an enlarged scale, of the apparatus in posit1on between coal storage bins. 0

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, also enlarged, the section being in the vertical plane indicated by the dotted line 44 on Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a side elevation, broken away,

showing a portion of the apparatus on a scale larger than same is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a vertical elevation of a detail,

taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line 66 on Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the fixed vertical frame, onanenlarged scale.

Figure 8 is a sectional view, showlng in plan the rotatable shaft on the boom, sec-.

tional parts being taken in the horizontal plane indicated by the dotted line 77 on Figure 7 Figure 9 is a side elevation of a port on of the boom, on an enlarged scale, the wow being taken in the vertical, longitudinal plane indicated by the dotted line 99 on Figure 7.

By reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that A shows the end of a pier or embankment against whlch a boat may be brought to be loaded with coal or other merchandise, the position of the boat being indicated by dotted lines. Storage bins or bunkers, in this instance for coal, are shown at B, B, spaced'apart on either side ofa relatively narrow depressed channel or way 1 below the surface of the pier A and extending away therefrom, in this instance at right angles to the end of the pier. In this way 1 may be placed, if desired, rails 2, 2, to form a track.

A carriage or frame C is positioned in the way 1 and carrier a conveyor belt D and a weightometer E in operative connection with the belt D. F is a boom of suitable dotted lines in Figure 1.

frame structure, pivotally mounted upon the shaft 3, transversely located on the carriage O, and adapted to have its free end adjusted to suitable position, as indicated by the G is a suitable upright frame in fixed position near the pier A, astraddle of the boom F, and provided with suitable means for adjusting the boom end. A conveyor belt H is operatively positioned on the boom F. i i

From the foregoing general description, and without referring to details, it will be understood that the carrier G is first brought to position between the bunkers or bins B and the coal is then deposited upon the traveling conveyor belt D, from which it falls upon the traveling belt H. In its passage on the belt D through the Weightometer E, the coal is weighed.

In positioning the carrier C to receive the coal from the storage'bins B, care will be taken, of course, to also-move it in the channel 1 so as to bring the discharge end of the boom F in juxtaposition to the proper position over the boat for receiving the coal conveyed by the traveling belt II, when discharged from the boom end.

In the embodiment of the form of apparatus which I have chosen for illustrating my invention as above generally outlined, I have illustrated a practical and what I believe to be a preferred form, which I shall now proceed to describe more in detail.

The carriage C is formed, as shown, of structural steel, and will be of such height as to be conveniently near theoverhanging chutes or valved hoppers 4 on the storage pins B. It need be only slightly wider than the width of the conveyor belt D, and, I find that is a practical width for such belt. It is provided with wheels 0' adapted to travel over the rails 2 and it must be of such length so that its rear end when positioned to receive coal from the shoremost bin B, will permit of the discharge end of the boom F to overhang the farthest receiving point on the boat to be loaded.

The coal may be deposited directly upon the conveyor belt D, but I prefer to provide upon the carriage C a hopper 5 to more conveniently receive the coal from the bin chutes 4 and deposit same upon the belt D.

The belt D is mounted upon rollers 7, one of which is driven by any suitable means, and the carriage C may be shifted along the rails 2 by any suitable means. Such operating means are common and need not be illustrated herein.

Various forms of known weighing devices E may be used to measure the coal as it t'avels with the belt D to belt H. So long as the weightometer E is positioned in operative relation to the traveling belt D and is adapted to be moved when the carriage C is moved, the coal will be weighed in transit, but I find it more practical to mount the weightometer directly upon the carriage C, as shown.

The boom F and its conveyor H are, preferably, mounted in a plane below that of the belt D and the boom is provided at its rear end with a receiving hopper 8 intermediate the discharge end of thebelt D and the receiving end of the belt H.

The drive shaft 3 may be rotated from any suitable source of power, such as a motor located directly upon the carriage C and connected with the drive gear '9 on the belt shaft 10,the two shafts 3, 10, being coupled by gear .11 and pinion 12.

A sprocket chain 13 communicates motion from shaft 3 to the carrier shaft 1 1 which latter actuates the conveyor belt D. The upper lap of belt D is supported upon rollers 15 mounted on the carriage C andthe upper lap of belt H is supported on rollers 15 mounted on the boom F.

The manner of adjusting the boom will now be described. Referring to Figures 7 8 and 9, it will be noted that the fixed frame G, as a whole, is A-shaped, its two central upright members 16 being formed with channel guidewa-ys 17 which face inwardly. A shaft 18 is provided, on each end of which is a roller 19 ofa size suitable to fit within the vertical channel guideways 17 of the spaced-apart uprightmembers 16, 16. This shaft has suitable rotatable bearing in the lower ends of rods 20-depending from the cross bar lifting member 21, thus forming a sortof bail or open frame surrounding the boom F. The latter is provided with longitudinally disposed depending-rails or bearings bars 22 which rest upon the two spacedapart sheave pulleys 23, 23, on the shaft 18. A hoisting cable is trained over a pulley 2 1 on the lifting member 21 of the bail, and over a pulley 25 on the top cross beam 26, connecting the-top of the uprights 16, and serves to raise the member 21 and the boom with it.

It will be notedthat the rollers 19 in the channels 17 serve to reduce friction otherwise incident to a vertical movement of the boom 1* in the frame G, while the roller :bars "22 rotate the pulleys 23 on shaft 18 as the boom F 1s moved through the vertithe rails 2 in the way 1, the boom end is thrust out over the pier end to overhang the boat, and by means of the hoisting cable the boom 'eud may be elevated to the desired level, or vice versa, all with the great est facility and certainty.

It will of course be understood that it is desirable to have the conveyor H travel at a slightly 'fasterspeed than the conveyor D, and in practice I lind that when the rate of speed of conveyor D is, say, four hundred feet per minute, the best results will be obtained by having the conveyor H travel at the rate of about four hundred and fifty feet per minute.

I find it also desirable to insure the proper passing of the coal upon the conveyor H, and not clogging the apparatus, and this may be accomplished by providing the-hopper 8 with suitable lateral and forwardly extending legs 8 8.

It will be understood that myapparatus possesses great merit and utility in what I may call its flexibility, namely: the provision of means whereby the dicharge end of the boom may be raised or lowered to accommodatc itself to the receiving level of different styles or types of ships, including freight and passenger boats; and, also, that the apparatus as a whole may be moved forwardly toward the boat and the boom thrust into the vessel so as to discharge the coal directly into the bunkers, thereby largely confining the dust raised during the loading operations to the coal bunkers within the ship.

Another advantage of my apparatus lies in a decided savingof time over loading by the ordinary methods employing a crane and clam scoops. 'lVhere such devices now in use transfer say fiftyto sixty-tons of coal per hour from dock to boat, with my apparatus I am enabled to so transfer from two hundred to two hundred and fifty tons of coal per hour.

My apparatus also lends itself to the use of automatic sprinkler apparatus forspraying the coal and laying coal dust, whereas, with present apparatus heretofore in use, the coal is sprayed with a hose manually operated.

The apparatus is practical andhas no complicated parts to get out of order. While I recommend the above described form of my invention, I wish it understood that, except as to the specific limitations of the appended claims, I do not wish to limit my invention to the details shown, since various changes and modifications may obviously be made without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A loading a .:paratus of the character described, comprising a fixed upright frame, a carriage frame movable longitudinally-with respect to the fixed frame, a conveyor operatively mounted on the movable carriage, a boom hingedly connected with the carriage frame to travel therewith and projecting through the upright frame, means operatively connecting the upright frame and the boom for adjusting the free end of the boom, and means for conveying material to the discharge end of the boom.

2. A loading a1 paratus of the character described, comprising a fixed upright frame, a carriage frame movable longitudinally with respect to the fixed frame, a conveyor operatively mounted on the movable carriage, a boom hingedly connected with the carriage frame to travel therewith and projecting through the upright frame, means operatively connecting the upright frame and the boom for adjusting the free end of the boom, and means for conveying material to the discharge end of the boom, said boom adjusting means embracing vertically disposed guideways in the upright frame, a lifting cable connecting the boom and the top of the upright frame and means for actuating the cable.

3. A loading apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixed upright frame, a carriage frame movable longitudinally with respect to the fixed frame, a conveyor operatively mounted on the movable carriage, a boom hingedly connected with the carriage frame o travel therewith and proj ecting through the upright frame, means operatively connecting the upright frame and the boom for adjusting the free end of the boom, and means for conveying material to the discharge end of the boom, said boom adjusting means embracing vertically disposed guideways in the upright frame, a bail vertically movable in the guideways, a lifting cable and means for actuating the cable.

4. A loading apparatus of the character described, comprising a movable carriage frame, a conveyor operatively mounted thereon, a fixed upright frame, a vertically movable bail in said. frame, a boom hingedly connected to the carriage frame to travel therewith and with its discharge end extending through said bail, a conveyor operatively mounted on the boom and means for effecting relative movement of the boom end longitudinally through said bail.

5. A loading apparatus of the character described, comprising a movable carriage frame, a conveyor operatively mounted thereon, a weightometer mounted to travel with the carriage frame and operatively connected with the conveyor, an upright'frame fixed with relation to the movable carriage frame, a boom hingedly mounted on the carriage frame and projecting at its free end through the upright frame, operative connections associated with the upright frame for adjusting the free end of the boom, and

a conveyor on the boom positioned to receive the merchandise after said merchandise has passed the weightometer and to convey same to the discharge end of the boom.

6. A loading apparatus of the character described, comprising a movable carriage frame, a conveyor operatively mounted thereon, a weightometer mounted to travel with the carriage frame and operatively c0nnected with the conveyor, an upright frame fixed with relation to the movable carriage frame, a boom hingedly mounted on the carriage frame and projecting at its free end through the upright frame, operative connections associated with the upright frame for adjusting the free end of the boom, a conveyor on the boom positioned to receive the merchandise after said merchandise has passed the weightomete-r and to convey same to the discharge end of the boom, and means on the boom for directing merchandise from the carriage conveyor to the boom conveyor.

'7. A loading apparatus of the character described, comprising a movable carriage frame, a. conveyor operatively mounted thereon, a weightometer mounted to travel with the carriage frame and operatively connected with the conveyor belt, an upright frame fixed with relation to the movable carriage frame, a boom hingedly mounted on the carriage frame and projecting at its free end through the upright frame, operative connections associated with the upright frame for adjusting the free end of the boom, a conveyor on the boom positioned to receive the merchandise after said merchandisc has passed the weightometer and to convey same to the discharge end of the boom, and a hopper on the boom for directing merchandise from the carriage conveyor to the boom conveyor.

8. A loading apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixed upright frame, a carriage frame movable longitudinally with respect to the fixed frame, a conveyor operatively mounted on the movable carriage, a boom hingedly connected with the carriage frame to travel therewith and projecting through the upright frame, means operatively connecting the upright frame and the boom for adjusting the free end of the boom, and means for conveying material to the discharge end of the boom, the conveyor on the carriage frame being in a higher plane than the receiving end of the conveyor on the boom.

9. A loading apparatus of the character described, comprising a movable carriage frame, a belt conveyor operatively mounted thereon, a weightometer mounted to travel with the carriage frame and operatively connected with the conveyor belt, an upright frame fixed with relation to the movable carriage frame, a boom hingedly mounted on the carriage frame and projecting at its free end through the upright frame, operative connections associated with the upright frame for adjusting the free end of the boom, and a conveyor belt on the boom positioned to receive the merchandise after said merchandise has passed the weightometer and to convey same to the discharge end of the boom, and means for causing said con- \eyor belts to travel synchronously.

10. A loading apparatus of the character described comprising a carriage frame relatively narrow in width and adapted to travel in a relatively narrow channel, aconveyor belt mounted on the carriage frame, a weightometer also mounted on the frame and operatively connected with said conveyor belt, a boom hingedly mounted to the carriage, a conveyor belt operatively mounted on the boom, a hopper on the boom for receiving merchandise from the carriage conveyor belt and depositing same upon the boom conveyor belt, means for actuating said conveyors, a fixed upright frame straddling the free end of the boom, means associating the frame and the boom for adjusting the free end of the boom vertically and means for actuating the carriage frame to and from the fixed frame.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I allix my signature this 30th day of September, 1925.

JACK RENVICK VERHOEFF. 

